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07-21-2002, 11:53 AM
MIAMI -- More than baseball has been weighing on Marlins third baseman Mike Lowell's mind lately.
Lowell spent nearly seven hours Saturday by his father's side in a Miami hospital before heading to Pro Player Stadium.
Six weeks ago, Carl Lowell was diagnosed with prostate cancer. But surgery was held off because he wanted to travel to Milwaukee to see his son represent the National League in the All-Star Game.
At 8 a.m. Saturday, Carl underwent a three-hour operation with his son close by.
"Everything went good," Lowell said. "It went as good as can be expected."
Lowell capped his agonizing day on a high note by swatting a crucial two-run homer in the Marlins' 3-0 win over the Expos at Pro Player Stadium.
The 360-foot shot into the left-field seats came in the seventh inning off Dan Smith on a full count. It snapped an 0-for-14 slump by the first-time All-Star, who last homered on July 2 at home against the Cubs.
"It was a great way to end the day," said Lowell, who now has 300 career RBIs. "I haven't been swinging good. I would have settled for a broken-bat single."
The way things have been going, Lowell wasn't sure the ball was gone. But it kept drifting. Former Marlin Cliff Floyd took a few futile steps in pursuit, then stopped and looked up.
"I knew I hit it good, but I was looking at Cliff and hoping he wouldn't jump or nothing," Lowell said. "Once I saw him kind of give up, I knew it was gone. It felt great. It was a big relief. It's been a long day for me. I've been [awake] for a while."
Lowell stayed at the hospital until he heard his father was all right. He arrived at the ballpark about 3:30 p.m.
Carl Lowell is a regular at Marlins home games. Even sedated, he was aware of his son's progress. When the surgeon said Mike went 0-for-3 Friday, a groggy Carl corrected "0-for-4."
After the fact, Lowell dedicated the home run. He quickly pointed out he didn't make a Babe Ruth-like prediction beforehand.
"Yeah, you can say I dedicated it to him," Lowell said. "Everything looks good for him. It's just scary because you look at him and see him all drugged up."
Lowell had his own personal battle with cancer. In 1999, he missed more than a month after undergoing testicular cancer surgery.
Saturday's win was Florida's second straight over the Expos, after the team had dropped eight in a row.
Right-handed pitcher Brad Penny (4-4) pitched six innings, scattering three hits while improving to 7-1 in eight starts against the Expos. On April 4, Penny blanked Montreal 1-0 on a complete-game, four-hitter at Olympic Stadium.
"This is huge," said Penny, who has a 1.81 career ERA versus Montreal. "It's a lot of weight off my shoulders."
More trade rumblings: Cliff Floyd and Ryan Dempster may be gone, but persistent trade talk continues in the Marlins clubhouse. Outfielder Kevin Millar caught wind a few days ago that he might be headed to the Red Sox. And first baseman Derrek Lee has heard his name batted about possibly to the Tigers. "You think about it, no doubt," Millar said Saturday. "You can come in here any day and be gone. It's exciting, but it's tough because you want to just play." Former Marlins owner John Henry owns the Red Sox. Detroit president Dave Dombrowski was the architect of the Marlins 1997 World Series championship team, and was team president last season. Lee, acquired by the Marlins in December, 1997 as part of a trade that sent Kevin Brown to the Padres, says his name has been mentioned in rumors before. "This year is definitely the most," the first baseman said. The trade deadline is July 31, and manager Jeff Torborg said he will be relieved when all the rumors subside. "I'll be very happy to have it over," Torborg said. "It's a whole lot tougher with a team like ours where we talk about team being family. These guys have been together a while. They care about each other."
Fish tidbits: SS Alex Gonzalez (dislocated left shoulder) was transferred for from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. Gonzalez is seeing surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Monday. ... LHP Benito Baez (left elbow ligament sprain) was recalled from his injury rehab assignment, activated and then optioned to Double A Portland. ... LHP Graeme Lloyd expects to find out the results of his grievance next week, possibly Monday. The relief pitcher is contesting to an arbitrator whether his no-trade clause should have been upheld, thus blocking his inclusion in the deal that sent him from Montreal to the Marlins. He had a hearing before the arbitrator last Wednesday in Atlanta.
Lowell spent nearly seven hours Saturday by his father's side in a Miami hospital before heading to Pro Player Stadium.
Six weeks ago, Carl Lowell was diagnosed with prostate cancer. But surgery was held off because he wanted to travel to Milwaukee to see his son represent the National League in the All-Star Game.
At 8 a.m. Saturday, Carl underwent a three-hour operation with his son close by.
"Everything went good," Lowell said. "It went as good as can be expected."
Lowell capped his agonizing day on a high note by swatting a crucial two-run homer in the Marlins' 3-0 win over the Expos at Pro Player Stadium.
The 360-foot shot into the left-field seats came in the seventh inning off Dan Smith on a full count. It snapped an 0-for-14 slump by the first-time All-Star, who last homered on July 2 at home against the Cubs.
"It was a great way to end the day," said Lowell, who now has 300 career RBIs. "I haven't been swinging good. I would have settled for a broken-bat single."
The way things have been going, Lowell wasn't sure the ball was gone. But it kept drifting. Former Marlin Cliff Floyd took a few futile steps in pursuit, then stopped and looked up.
"I knew I hit it good, but I was looking at Cliff and hoping he wouldn't jump or nothing," Lowell said. "Once I saw him kind of give up, I knew it was gone. It felt great. It was a big relief. It's been a long day for me. I've been [awake] for a while."
Lowell stayed at the hospital until he heard his father was all right. He arrived at the ballpark about 3:30 p.m.
Carl Lowell is a regular at Marlins home games. Even sedated, he was aware of his son's progress. When the surgeon said Mike went 0-for-3 Friday, a groggy Carl corrected "0-for-4."
After the fact, Lowell dedicated the home run. He quickly pointed out he didn't make a Babe Ruth-like prediction beforehand.
"Yeah, you can say I dedicated it to him," Lowell said. "Everything looks good for him. It's just scary because you look at him and see him all drugged up."
Lowell had his own personal battle with cancer. In 1999, he missed more than a month after undergoing testicular cancer surgery.
Saturday's win was Florida's second straight over the Expos, after the team had dropped eight in a row.
Right-handed pitcher Brad Penny (4-4) pitched six innings, scattering three hits while improving to 7-1 in eight starts against the Expos. On April 4, Penny blanked Montreal 1-0 on a complete-game, four-hitter at Olympic Stadium.
"This is huge," said Penny, who has a 1.81 career ERA versus Montreal. "It's a lot of weight off my shoulders."
More trade rumblings: Cliff Floyd and Ryan Dempster may be gone, but persistent trade talk continues in the Marlins clubhouse. Outfielder Kevin Millar caught wind a few days ago that he might be headed to the Red Sox. And first baseman Derrek Lee has heard his name batted about possibly to the Tigers. "You think about it, no doubt," Millar said Saturday. "You can come in here any day and be gone. It's exciting, but it's tough because you want to just play." Former Marlins owner John Henry owns the Red Sox. Detroit president Dave Dombrowski was the architect of the Marlins 1997 World Series championship team, and was team president last season. Lee, acquired by the Marlins in December, 1997 as part of a trade that sent Kevin Brown to the Padres, says his name has been mentioned in rumors before. "This year is definitely the most," the first baseman said. The trade deadline is July 31, and manager Jeff Torborg said he will be relieved when all the rumors subside. "I'll be very happy to have it over," Torborg said. "It's a whole lot tougher with a team like ours where we talk about team being family. These guys have been together a while. They care about each other."
Fish tidbits: SS Alex Gonzalez (dislocated left shoulder) was transferred for from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. Gonzalez is seeing surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Monday. ... LHP Benito Baez (left elbow ligament sprain) was recalled from his injury rehab assignment, activated and then optioned to Double A Portland. ... LHP Graeme Lloyd expects to find out the results of his grievance next week, possibly Monday. The relief pitcher is contesting to an arbitrator whether his no-trade clause should have been upheld, thus blocking his inclusion in the deal that sent him from Montreal to the Marlins. He had a hearing before the arbitrator last Wednesday in Atlanta.